Catalytic leaders need to be seen to be heard

Leaders don't need to stand on soapboxes, ride white horses, or be at the front of the line to be effective.  Good leaders use the quiet conversation and strategic questions as much, or even more than, the "big speech."  But one thing all leaders need is to be present.  Or more specifically, to be visible to their audiences.  Technology makes it easier for even the busiest people to be more visible leaders.

Leaders succeed when they convince others about the value of a goal and persuade them to act on those beliefs. The most successful leaders inspire and motivate audiences to commit their time and resources to a mission.  But you have to practice what you preach.  If you're not seen as being committed and willing to put in the same time and energy that you ask of others, you will lose credibility quickly.

You may have big ideas, but they have to hear them from you.  You may be working hard on a project, but they have to see you working hard.  If you're seen as invisible or out of touch, audiences lose their motivation quickly.

Audiences also get distracted easily.  A lot of things call for the attention of our audiences.  The busier your audiences are, the less space they have on their internal radar screens.  The leader who pops up a few times a year to give a motivational speech probably shouldn't even bother.

For most of his career, Edward Blakely has been one of the busiest urban planners in the United States. He is one of the leading thinkers on local economic development, an active land developer, and has been an advisor to presidents of the United States and big city mayors.  Yet, when he was Dean of a graduate school at The New School, he made time to attend the staff birthday and going away parties. His being at these events was a symbolic gesture to demonstrate that Ed cared about the staff.  In universities, where staff are often seen as second-class citizens, this is important.

Being more visible is especially important when you're building or revitalizing a community around a mission.  According to the Tuckman Theory of Group Development, people in the beginning look to a strong central leader for direction and guidance.  This is the time when the leader needs to be most visible.  If it means holding monthly meetings where the leader is sitting with one or two people, so be it.  Over time, people are more likely to see the visibility as a sign of commitment and consistency, and will be more likely to be involved  (if the mission is right for them.)

What are the best ways to become more visible?

• Sometimes you need to hold more meetings.  We're told that "everybody hates meetings."  But what most people hate are the meetings that are seen as time-wasters.  A meeting to present what someone can read in a report is a time-waster.  A "team building" exercise for a group that is working well together is a time waster.  The more people can get what they want out of a meeting, the more they will enjoy it.  What do people want?  Depending on the person or the circumstance, it could be getting solutions to problems, the chance to be heard, knowledge on something that will affect their jobs or lives, or opportunities to build connections with other busy people.  If you're trying to motivate staff, have meetings where more time is spent on brainstorming than reporting.  If you're trying to motivate volunteers, have guest speakers or discussion topics in the same meetings where you talk about projects.
• Also hold events.  Even in the most casual places, meetings often have formalities and protocols that can make some people uncomfortable.  One way to get audiences to connect with one another -- a key to building social action -- is to hold events that are fun and relaxed.  Turn one of the weekly breakfast meetings into an afternoon coffee hour.  
• Connect to your audiences through email at least once a month. Free group software and commercial email marketing providers (PDI uses Constant Contact) make it easier for you to stay connected with your audiences.  You don't need to be inspiring every time.  You can write about something in the news, and how it connects to your mission.  You can give kudos to someone who has gone above and beyond.  As long as what you write connects to the mission and values of your group, feel free to be creative.
• Try social networking. Blogs and social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn aren't just for narcissists and pundits.  They are a great way for people who are separated by time and distance to connect to one another.  When it is impractical for community members to be together in person often, social networking sites can help to hold a community together.

--Leonardo  Vazquez, AICP/PP

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